I really enjoyed Duke, Actually. It was fun, the references were current and the conversations between Max and Dani were very witty -- particularly their texts. Of course, you knew they would get together eventually but even so...and the choice of a career project for Max was marvelous and could be a book in and of itself! Also loved his horrible parents and his rekindled relationship with his brother.
I highly recommend Duke, Actually if you're looking for a fun, page-turning read.

This was a delightful read. Friends to lovers (the best trope) and a veeeeeery slow burn on the romance (I mean, 80% before we even get a kiss?!). Fairly light-hearted and full of cute references to much-loved pop culture references (see: Dirty Dancing, Love, Actually), history, and literature. I loved the development of Dani and Max's friendship. They genuinely cared for each other, and it was a masterfully written friendship.

This is an easy book to breeze through and the pacing of the story keeps you going. If you don't want Christmas shoved down your throat, then no worries - most of the plot happens during the year between two Christmas' so you get plenty of non-holiday time. I read this without having read the first in this series, and I didn't feel like I was missing too much of the story. I did enjoy the side-story about Max's brother, Seb (honestly, I wish I was reading HIS book), but the end twist with their family was a little.... weird.

My only chief complaint with this book is that the reputation of Max as the "Depraved Duke" gets handled in a pretty sex-negative way for the first 40% of the book. Dani, who prides herself on being fairly sex-positive (especially with her Tinder plans for casual sex), says a LOT of snide comments about Max's past sexual partners & experiences. While she mostly covers it up by saying "It's a joke!" I really don't think that readers would be as comfortable if the genders were reversed in those conversations. Long story short: no slut-shaming the hot dukes (ahem... barons). Just hop in bed with 'em.

“Duke, Actually” is the sequel to “A Princess For Christmas.” I read “A Princess For Christmas” just before I read this book, and I recommend doing that!

“Duke, Actually” follows Max, the Baron of Laudon, and Princess Marie’s best friend (and ex-unofficial fiancé) and Dani, Leo’s cousin-by-marriage slash best friend. They initially meet as they help their best friends plan their upcoming royal wedding, but after Max accompanies Dani to a work dinner in New York, they strike up a friendship. The two set resolutions for the new year - Dani will *finally* Get divorced from her cheating ex and Max will get a real job. The book time jumps a lot, but Max and Dani talk for months on end, starting in text, moving to talking on the phone, and eventually meeting in person again. What happens when you start to develop feelings for your best friend? How do those feelings fit into your new life plans?

I really enjoyed this book. You could really tell the friendship between Max and Dani and then feel their chemistry. I would have liked a little more spice (the scenes in “A Princess For Christmas” were spicier!), but it was really well written and a fun holiday read!

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher and author for this ARC!

Such a fun christmas-y book, that also takes place year-round! I loved the relationship between Max & Dani. I found their friendship so, so special and almost wished they stayed friends. I loved bearing witness to the development of their relationship and that was by far my favorite part of the story.

I will say, the ending felt a bit off, with the father dying. It felt icky that it was basically the brother's 'fault' and that didn't sit with my very well. Apart from that, it was a really lovely holiday novel!

Bury me in average-American-woman-falls-in-love-with-rich-royalty books and let me die happy.

Maybe it's the disney princess loving kid inside of me but I'll never get enough of this trope.

Duke, Actually was a cozy Christmas book that will get you ready for the winter season.
I was thrilled to find out that there would be a sequel to ‘A Princess for Christmas’ since I fell in love with Marie and Leo instantly, and while I did really enjoy this story overall, there were a few speed bumps plot-wide that detracted from the story.

The good:
Dani. Dani. Dani. That woman was in dire need of her own love story. I love that Jenny Bayliss wrote such a lovable, strong character that showed some serious growth over the book.

The settings - just casually looking up how to get to Eldovia 😜

The ok:
This was a SLOW BURN, so be prepared if you’re wanting a hot and steamy relationship from the get-go. Normally I’m totally fine with this, but it ended up dragging parts of the plot for me.
The conflict between Dani and Max felt like it happened too late in the book to be fully fleshed out. It was like, fight, and 5 pages later they both had decided to reconcile.

Overall, another fun holiday read. Fingers crossed for Sebastian getting his own holiday happy ending next year 🤞🏼

Thank you to Avon/Harper Voyager and Netgally for the advanced reader copy. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was such a cute Christmas read! The characters had such great chemistry! The perfect festive romance! Max and Dani grabbed a hold of my heart in this one for sure!

Read this if you love:
🔥 Slow burns
🎄 Hallmark style Christmas stories
👑 Royals in love
💕 Friends to lovers
🌶 A little bit of spice

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A really enjoyable holiday romcom with all of the Love, Actually vibes. I was worried I wouldn't enjoy this one as much as A Princess for Christmas but it live up to the first.

This book is so cute! I loved Max and Dani's romance. I really love how it started as a friendship and over a span of time. It was definitely a pleasant surprise. This is totally one worth the read and one I recommend if your looking for a cute holiday read!

One of my favorite new Christmas books of 2021!

A royal wedding brings together a reckless Duke not ready to settle down and a New Yorker who’s sworn off love. With their best friends on the way to the alter, Maximillian and Dani have plenty of opportunities to get to know each other. They hit it off immediately as friends since they’re both not looking for a relationship.

This turned into a friendship that was filled with undeniable sparks! I loved how Max and Dani continuously showed up for each other and laid the foundation of their relationship on supporting each other.

Fun rom-com that features a Baron on the run from his future, and a new divorcee who is on hiatus from men and relationships. It's a little Halmark-ish at times, but who doesn't love a good Hallmark movie? 3.75 stars

Many thanks to Avon/HarperCollins and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

I loved this friends to lovers romance. I loved the friendship, the banter, the job discussions, Max the dog, and the support for each other. I felt terrible for both characters and what they've got through previously. I loved Max's brother Sebastian. The Love, Actually discussion and the Dirty Dancing Lifts were both entertaining. Delightful!

First of all, let me say how much I love Jenny Holiday. She is an incredible romance writer, and like everything she writes, Duke, Actually is pure, swoony, heartfelt, fun.

Secondly, it should be stated that I'm usually not the biggest fan of Christmas books. I often find them to be too cheesy. I promise you that this series is not. Duke, Actually has everything you would want in a holiday romance: royalty, NYC, an adorable pup, and fantastic characters. Dani is a recently divorced professor, and Max is a Duke who can't seem to leave her alone. The book takes place over the course of the year, but ends up in Eldovia for a Christmas wedding. (Reading book #1 A Princess for Christmas isn't required to read this book, but you should read it because it is also so great.) Max and Dani have A+ chemistry, and their growth over the course of the story feels real and well-earned. If you read one Christmas book this year, it should be this one!

This book was simply delightful!

I loved the evolution of their relationship and the coziness of Christmas. It was like reading a hallmark movie.

I did not realize this book was part of a series and cannot wait to read more!

A commoner/royalty, enemies-who-become-friends-to-lovers, opposites attract holiday-set romcom that features references to 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦, 𝘈𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺? Yes, please.

I dare you not to fall in love with playboy baron Max and newly separated professor Dani. They're fantastic, charismatic characters and the chemistry and banter between them is off the charts. The friendship they establish is believable and I appreciate that Jenny Holiday had them consider the repercussions of taking it further even if I was mentally screaming at them to "Please, get it on already!" You also get a royal wedding, 𝘋𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘺 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 lifts, Christmas in New York, a bit of steam, an adorable dog and a few expected twists - seriously, this book has it all!

𝗗𝗨𝗞𝗘, 𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗨𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗬 put a big, fat smile on my face (the airport scene at the end is so.damn.good!) and totally got me in the holiday mood. It's definitely one of my favorite romances of the year.

PS - This story picks up where 𝘈 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘴 left off but totally works as a stand alone.

4.5 stars rounded up

Thanks to Avon Books & NetGalley for a copy to review.

Duke, Actually is the companion novel to Jenny Holiday’s previous Christmas-themed romance, A Princess for Christmas. Following the best friends of our former couple, we see Dani and Max form an unlikely friendship over the course of a year as they help each other try to move into new stages of their lives.

Holiday’s previous book was one of my favorite Christmas novels I read last year, so I was thrilled to see the announcement for this book. Reformed-womanizer tropes are always a hit for me, and paired with the slowburn friends to lovers of Duke, Actually, I was completely invested. I loved everything about this book. The long distance friendship was done so well, to where I didn’t feel like we didn’t get enough of Max and Dani being together, but it also didn’t feel unrealistic for them to be together at the times they were, especially considering Max’s job.

I loved this so much, and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys some good ole fashioned mutual pining, but would also recommend you to read the first novel first, just to help provide context.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for providing an eArc in exchange for review!

I just love these characters. This is a follow up to A Princess for Christmas, but could be read as a standalone. Romance and the holidays made this a delightful book and was great on audio. Though a little too steamy for my preferences. Overall, I really enjoyed this one and it was a great holiday romance.

I feel like I need to go watch Love, Actually and Dirty Dancing now. All the little hints of it in this book give me a craving. 😂
Duke, Actually was a hilarious, slow-burn, angsty (sort of) read. I highly enjoyed the relationship between Max and Dani.
There were a few issues I had that were not deal-breakers like the POV changing mid-chapter with just a double-space between? It's not completely a holiday read per se and how old were these characters? 30s or 40s? It was just those simple things that had me questioning things but again it didn't affect the story.
I truly did enjoy it

FIVE HUGE STARS

I loved everything about this book. The characters, the timeline, the strangers-friends-lovers, the humor and the hurt.

“New York is a goddamn delight.” AGREE

Oh wow, what a delight! This was so whimsical and fun, but also realistic and grounded. I really love Holiday's writing, her humor, and the way she develops such lovable characters. This was just the perfect Christmas treat and I'll definitely be recommending it to all my friends! 4.5/5 stars, 2.5/5 steam rating.